New paintings and regular art updates.
Crow painting from 2017. Acrylic on canvas with gold leaf. It was an experiment which I felt came out OK. Its from my imagination. It was only about six inches square.
I did a series of small paintings over the last few years, mainly for sale in craft fairs, they were quite popular. I wish I was doing more, but it’s pointless at the moment as I would just be creating more art with no outlet to sell it. Anyway I hope things get back to some form of normal in the next six months to a year……. Xxx
Played with colours and shading in this digital drawing (again done at sketchfu). A few years old. I’m pleased that this came up on my Facebook memories….
Does anyone else draw on the computer? Have you got any tips you could share?
If I was happy I would be painting, I would be relaxed. I would not have the weight of the world on my shoulders. My chair that I rest paintings on is empty. I have things to do. It’s just the world turns and I want to get off as the old saying goes.
The photo is the underpainting of a painting of Spode in Stoke-on-Trent. Also a portrait of my friends cat.
I’ve just had a few paintings accepted at a local gallery (the waiting room gallery in Longport) that I’ve had work in before. Those are 2019 paintings, but they still are for sale. They will be on display in their on line gallery. I will post details when I have them.
Sometimes I go a little abstract, and then I particularly like adding flowing lines and spirals. I guess I’m a pattern lover. This cat painting is acrylic on canvas. I did it in 2008. I do remember painting it but I don’t know if it was ever exhibited, I think perhaps I should have an archive but I never got round to it. I think I can see a hint of of illustration ideas in this. But then Ive always been disorganised. I am thinking of setting up a new webpage which will only be for illustrations so that I can add images that might be for sale, or look into doing tee shirt designs. I’ve heard of places like Redbubble , Spoonflower or Square, is anyone familiar with them?
I have just got involved in an Art project. #theStoke2000 project. Artists are being invited to collaborate in painting wooden bottle ovens. These can have plants put in the top of them to use as planters.
Each artist will be producing an image that relates to Stoke on Trent and they will be used as part of a local art trail. I’m thinking of painting a plaque from the Falcon Pottery Works which is just round the corner from where I live. I think I need to get some more paints before we go into lockdown again. When it’s finished I will post a picture of it.
Acrylic on canvas from five years ago. I get so excited by colours and patterns, sorry its a bit blurry. I don’t have the painting anymore. I think I did a second version of this, they both sold. I wonder sometimes whether I should do more paintings like this or are they too abstract/not abstract enough….
As people who know me know, I enjoy doing various things, that’s why I call myself an explorative fine artist, and perhaps an illustrator.
I was really looking forward to going back to our Orme Art Group, which is meeting for the first time in months. I was only going for the afternoon, but I was going to start doing something new. Then government decided to impose Tier two restrictions in our area. Most of the group will still be in Tier One but not me. Oh well, I have to admit I was a bit nervous of seeing people inside for the first time in months (and yet I’m happy to go shopping). Its strange how this pandemic can affect your confidence.
Maybe one day things can get back to normal, I can see my friends again. I can paint with them, spark new ideas, have fun. Do workshops learning new techniques.
Fingers crossed
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I’ve recently been commissioned to do a large family portrait for a friend of a friend, but I’m concerned about what they want to pay for it? They also sent me a great many photos in different conditions with lots of different groups of people on them. The problem is I can’t make a coherent image or composition using them.
I replied ‘That’s twelve portraits for £50?, it would have to be a small painting or a watercolour. Please can you choose the best photos that I can work from. I will do it but it will take a while. Possibly a couple of hours per portrait which works out at a cost of £4 per portrait or £2 per hour. I would normally charge £50 (normally £60) for one portrait, but I understand you might not be able to afford any more and I don’t want to ask too much. I want to do a good job for you and as you have already got a couple of my paintings I will consider only asking for a small amount for the painting. But please can you choose the twelve images you prefer as then I won’t get it wrong. “
I want to paint for people, but I don’t think they realise the work that goes into things. I would Never overcharge, but on the other hand I’d like to be paid at least the minimum wage for it!
How would you respond? Should I have questioned the request or refused it?
Note * I’m now just doing a very small painting, but I do wish people understood how hard it is to paint something like this, it’s not a snap!
The photo is by Clive Lawrence.
My friend visited a church somewhere in Yorkshire and saw this. Apparently he’d been the week before but it was closed. Last week he found out who he needed to speak to to get access to the church. I’d like to visit it one day. The ainting was apparently very black until it was cleaned. Unfortunately my friend didn’t tell me the name of the church or where in Yorkshire it is
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Orme arts autumn challenge. We agreed to attempt to reproduce a Picasso weeping woman painting. We did one or two panels each. I drew the top and bottom middle pages. The top on was mainly marker pens, but I could not get the purple colour so I used a mixture of white, blue and magenta to try and get it. Not right though. I also did the bottom middle panel. In that case I used watercolour paints then a black marker pen over the top.
Even though a number of artists put this together I think there is a good coherence and the squares are well matched. I’m pleased with the result.
Mallaband-Brown